Oil tester



Dec. 1, 1936. J. A. LOGAN ET AL, 2,062,588

OIL TESTER Original Filed March 30, 1934 Patented Dec. l, 1936 OILTESTER Joseph A. Logan, Springeld, and Leolyn F. Spear, Westfield,Mass., assignors to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, WestSpringfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts original applicationMarch so, 1934, sei-MN.

718,218. Divided and this application September 11, 1935, serial No.40,043

2 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) This invention relates to an improvement in meansfor testing liquids. It particularly relates to an improved tool ordevice for holding the liquid sample to be tested. Such t'ool is plannedfor use with a testing machine and in one aspect the invention residesin a combination of such tool and cooperating part of the testingmachines. This application is a division of our copending applicationSerial No. 718,218, illed March 30, 1934.

The kind of a testing machine to which the invention particularlyrelates is one using the socalled electric eye to measure variations oflight passing through different test samples. 'I'he testedcharacteristic of a sample is derived from its variation'from a.standard with respect to the amount of light passed through the sample.Such a testing machine is shown generally by patent to Ybarrondo, No.1,556,766 of October 13, 1925.

There are many other examples of the same kind of measuring instrumentsin the prior art.

The way in which our improvements are constructed and used will beunderstood from the accompanying drawing and description.

Fig. 1 is a view of a suflicient part o1' a testing machine casing toillustrate its use in practicing the invention in its preferred form;

Fg. 2 is a perspective view of one form of tool for holding a liquidsample and a handle for the tool;

Fig. 2A is a detail view of the handle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a. simpler form;

Figure 3A is a detail view of a modification that will be referred to:

Fig. 4 is aside view of a more fully developed tool form for use withthe testing machine'of Fig. 1:

Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in cross-section of the sample holdingpart of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a'. detail view with parts broken away to show the manner inwhich a part of the tool of Fig.4 cooperates with a part of theinstrument (of Fig. 1; and

Fig. '7 is a diagram to show a suitable arrangement of testing machineparts in a conventional manner.

The apparatus shown is primarily designed for testing the amount of dirtin engine oil. Of course it is capable of all sorts of other specicapplications in testing liquids for industrial purposes. But thedescription will refer to the pri#- mary use.

The tools shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are much alike. Referring to Fig. 3,that one comprises two annular frames I and 2, each carrying a circularwindow 3 of glass. A hinge 5 holds the frames together for opening andclosing. A l

spring snap lock 6 will hold the frames together. When together thewindows 3 are parallel and spaced a very short distance apart. The verynarrow space between such windows communicates all around the windowcircumference with the annular space 4 which is in the nature of anoverflow reservoir having space extending transversely above and belowthe horizontal and narrow space between the windows. The meeting line onthe outer circumference of the window frames is preferably located atleast as far above the central plane as the inner Aface of the topwindow 3. as indicated.

IThe tool of Fig. 3 is a sample or test specimen holder for a liquid tobe tested. Assuming one is to testv the amount of dirt in the oil of anautomobile crank case, a small specimen of such oil is taken out and,with frame 2 turned back on its hinge.`the oil is dropped on the bottomwindow 3. The top window is then turned down with frame 2 and the partstemporarily locked in the position of Fig. 3, In this position an oil'specimen of even thickness can be seen between the two glass windows 3.

It is important `to have the film ofl uniform thickness as avariationwill ail'ect` the amount of iight that can pass through the lin. Theconstruction of Fig. 3 will require a good deal of accurate fitting tomake the nlm space uniform f between the window glasses. To avoid this-the glasses 3 are preferably fitted into the frame as indicated in Fig.3A. In this figure the shoulder in the frame to take the glass isprovided with a cork washer (or compressible packing) 40. AV .f

narrow U-shaped clip 4| is slipped over `the edge of the top glass 3.And another similar clip is put on the top glass at a diametricallyopposite in their material and the inner facesof the glass have uniformsurfaces. With 'this arrangement the glasses in spaced relation can beheld tightly together by the window frames. The foot-of each clip canreadily embed itself in the adjacent cated. They can be readily insertedand removed.

IT'he advantage of this arrangement is that the window frameconstruction does not needto be made with great accuracy for the nicedouble window spacing to give the nlm thickness. Nor

do the two glass windows need to be of the same thickness to get theynlm spacing desired.v y The window frames and glass windows can bemadewith usual manufacturing tolerances. But with` the constructiondisclosed in connection with Fig. 3A the nlm space between the windowswill be exactly determined by the thickness of the four spacers or clips4 I. It is quite easy to make the clip thickness exactly what is wantedfor the nlm thickness between the windows. Furthermore, it is easy totake the glasses out vof the frames when soiled with use and put cleanones in that will give the same nlm thickness.

The window glasses in the other forms of tools referred to arepreferably Vheld in place by the same arrangement as just described. Tosimplify the drawing this window mounting detail is not shown in all thetools disclosed.

With the tool of Fig. 3 in horizontal position one has a specimen filmof the oil to be tested and one of uniform thickness. In getting thetest nlm of oil preparatory to testing, it has not been necessary toexactly gauge the quantity of oil placed between the windows. The actualnlm is preferably a very small quantity and allexcess over the nlmquantity wanted is squeezed out (as the frame parts are closed) `intothe reservoir space 4. The oil is squeezed into film form by the angularapproach of the windows and that acts to eliminate air bubbles. Thus,all that is necessary as a practical manipulation is to place on lowerglass window 3 that quantity of oil to betested that does not exceed thecapacity of l the nlm space and the overflow reservoir 4. The actualtest nlm located between the windows is such a small amount that theleeway provided for the operator to get enough and not too much, issufficient to avoid any trouble in taking the specimen or any bother inmanipulating the tool.v

The tool of Fig. 2 is substantially like that of Fig. 3, except in a fewparticulars. The frame members are provided with lugs 'I and I2 for amore powerful lock and closing means. Bolt I3 pivoted at 8 is providedwith wing nut 9 to force the windows into parallel position in finallyclosing the frames. This is o! advantage when heavy oil needs to besqueezed into nlm form between the windows or when the tool needs to bemore forcibly closed. The frames are provided with a l hinge arm III. Alug I I is provided on the bottom frame with the slot opening I4indicated, by which a spring wire handle I5 can be easily and removablyattached to the tool. 'I'his is done by squeezing the handle together,inserting it through the slot and letting it spring apart with its endsunder the lug and its bends extending upwardly and -over the lug, onebend adjacen each side at the slotted entrance.

When the test nlm of oil is prepared by the use of either tool andcontainer, it is then placed on the centralizing boss I6 of the testinginstrument. Referring to Fig. 3, the inner circumference I'I of theframe parts I and 2, which give the unobstructed openings for lookingthrough windows 3, is a circumference preferably made to nt snugly andexactly over the circumference of boss I6 and to bring the lower windows into nat position resting on the nat rim part of boss I6. This is trueof all the tools shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. Boss IB has a windowopening I1 centrally of' theA boss. The placing of the nlm holding toolon boss I6 places the film centralized over the opening II' in thetesting instrument. The manner of testing will be referred to later.

Having in mind the particular plan of testing v automobile engine oil bytaking a test sample from-the crank case, the special tool shown inFigs. 4, 5, and 6 has been developed for most conveniently handling sucha sample. frame arrangement is made up as shown generally in Fig. 5. Itis circular with bosses I8 extending `out from opposite ends. It has twoglass Windows I9 with' openings 20 of the circumference to nt boss I6 ofthe testing instrument. The spacing of the windows is of nlm thicknessand the nlm space has communication with openings extendinglongitudinally through end bosses I8.

The tube 25, preferably made flexible, with sleeve 22 is removablyattachedby a bayonet joint slot to one boss I8 by its stationary pin 2|.A suction hand pump 23 with handle 24 is in the same manner removablyattached to the op-l posite boss I8.

With this tool, tube 25 can be inserted in any convenient automobileengine opening where a sample of oil can be sucked out. And it is of AwindowVV considerable advantage to have a tool to take the test samplefrom the bottom of the crank case where the oil is most likely to havemost dirt in it, and to form the nlm by the tool drawing up from thispoint. When the end of the tube gets down into the oil, handle 24 isdrawn back and the pump 23 sucks out the sample through the tube andthrough the nlm space between glass windows I9 and into pump 2l. Allthat is neces lsary in manipulation to get the sample in nlm formbetween the windows is to pull handle 24 until the nlm space in view'ofthe operator is seen to be full and then stop.

Of course this tool of Fig. 4 is an extremely con# venient tool formerely taking an oil sample from an automobile crank case for testingits condition by the human eye and judgment alone. It can be contrastedwith the customary method of inserting a bare rod into the crankcase andlooking at the oil film upon taking out. the rod. The new tool is agreat improvement on the old stick method. But the tool is alsoespecially adapted for most conveniently getting successive testspecimens in mathematical predetermined nlm form for the electric eye"testing machine..

For this purpose the pump 23 and tube 25 are removable, as shown'. 'I'hecentral portion is then in most convenient form to place on the testing.instrument of Fig. 1. But of course the tool of'l Fig. 4 could be put inthe testing instrument without separating the parts, if one desired. Theend bosses I8 are received into U-shaped holders 26 and the bottomwindow frame nts on boss I6, as indicated in Fig. 6, in which ngureparts are broken away to indicate the accurate relationship of the filmposition on the boss and over its opening I'I.

When the tools described are frequently used,l

as they are planned to be at gasoline filling stations, for rapidlytesting the oil for one customer after another. the problem of easyv andquick cleaning between ltests arises. The tools of Figs. 2 and 3 arecleaned .by opening the window frames and washing the inside surfaces ofthe struction of Fig. 4 one could clean the test film A windows eitherby opening the window casings or and most convenient.

by removing them and using spare windows, or by the pumping of cleaningfluid without opening the casings. The pumping method is quickest Itwould do for most of the work. But when a more thorough cleaningisdesirable the window frames could be opened for the purpose.

Except in the features indicated in the claims, the particulars of thetesting machine per se are not part of the invention. Many differenttypes of known machines could be used in connection with the invention.A brief description of the test intended may help to understand the fullscope of the kind of work that can be done with the tools described.

Referring to Fig. '7, this illustrates a photoelectric cell means formeasuring light generally like that shown in'said prior Ybarrondopatent. A lamp. 30 in a supply circuit 3| gives a light source ofpredetermined intensity. This light can be adjusted to the desiredintensity by rheostat 32. A photo-electric cell 33 is spaced in linewith lamp 30. 'I'he light frm the lamp which reaches electric cell 33determines the amount of current in circuit 34. A micro-ammeter 35 inthat circuit measures the current. The line 36 indicates the position ofa lm (of anything). The amount of light from lamp 30 passing through theiilm online 36 and reaching cell 33 is what instrument 35 measures, bymeasuring the current in circuit 34. Such current differs 'from what thecurrent is in that circuit when the light does not need to pass throughthe film to be tested. This general measuring arrangement isillustrative of one of many specic types that could be used and they arevery well known in the measuring and testing arts. It is such anarrangement that we`prefer to use in testing the lms prepared and heldby i our improved tools.

Assuming that oil is to be tested for the amount of dirt in it: theinstrument 35 would be calibrated to give direct readings to indicate,for example, good, fair, poor, and bad condition for a film at 36according to its dirt content. The indications can of course be bywords, figures, colors, or any combination'of desired indications.

The testing instrument diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 7 isconveniently housed as shown in Fig. 1.

The preferred useof. the improved tools will now be described withrelation tothe testing instrument of Fig. 1.

The tool of Fig. 3 is the simplest. In clean form it is used to prepareand hold a lm, as already stated. It is placed on boss I6, switch 31(Fig. 7) closed, and indicator 35 gives a direct reading of thecondition of the film test specimen, in our case the dirt condition ofthe oil. The instrument of Fig. 2 can be used in a similar way with orwithout the handle.

The preferred tool is that of Fig. 4 when the instrument of Fig. 1 is tobe used at a public gasoline lling station. This tool isespeciallyadapted'for such use. The attendant asks the privilege of testing acustomers engine oil. He inserts tube 25 (especially made long enoughfor the purpose) into the oil of the crank case and to go to the verybottom of the crank case. He draws back handle 24 and sucks a testsample of the oil up the tube through the windows to. form the film andtoward the pump, leaving film space between the windows I9 full of oil.He then disconnects the tube 25 and pump 23 from bosses I8 of theintermediate section. And he places those bosse'sin the saddles of thetool holders 26 (Fig. 1) with the window frame centralized by boss l5. Ahood, not shown. may then be placed to shut out the daylight. Then theelectric light 20 is turned on anda reading taken from indicator 35 infull view of the customer. A fact proved by practice is that many oiltests are made' at a public filling station in which the oil is shown tobe in ne condition and no relling necessary. After a customergetsacquainted with this fact he will depend more and more on the realscientiflc nature of the instrument to tell him exactly when to changehis oil and thus be saved from the waste of the customary hit or nnssmethod of changing oil now in vogue.

We are aware of the prior art patents to Schoenberg 1,940,772 and1,940,373, disclosing testing instruments and tools for the same generaloil testing plan as ours. Our own invention is in the improved tools forhandling the test sample from start to finish with a view to greaterfacility in the testing work. It is a scientific test that one wants tocarry out under the inspection and with the acceptance of a largepublic. There are problems in commercializing the plan which makesspeed, convenience, accuracy, and cleanliness particularly importantfactors in the manipulation, not only for the public, but for thefilling station attendant.

With the tool of Fig. 4 the sample is drawn, formed into a film, placedcn the electric tester, and a reading given to the customer with realspeed and no confusion of sloppy manipulation. After the test and with asatisfied customer gone on his way, the Window frame can be separatedfor cleaning, as in Figs. 2 and 3, or as described in connection withFig. 3A (to simplifyl the drawing, this feature is not shown in Fig. 4),and quickly closed. But after the greater number of tests the tool ofFig. 4 can be cleaned by merely drawing from a supply of cleaning uidand passing the latter through the film space between the windows bymanipulation of the pump 23.

Having disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

1. An electric testingapparatus adapted for colorimetry work such astesting the condition of used lubricating oils comprising a casinggenerally closed except for an intermediate opening, a light sourceWithin the casing on one side of the opening, a photo-electric cellwithin the casing on the other side of the opening, a registering meteractuated by the photo-electric cell, a removable frame having spacedglass windows adapted to enclose between them a film of oil to be testedand having a rim surrounding said windows, and an annular boss on thecasing adjacent said opening and centrally perforate in line with saidlight source and photo-electric cell and adapted to receive and positionsaid frame accurately with respect to said light source andphotoelectric cell by engagement of the exterior of the bcss with theinterior of the rim on the frame.

2. An electric testing apparatus adapted for calorimetry work such astesting the condition of used lubricating oils comprising a casinggenerally closed except for an intermediate opening, a light sourcewithin the'casing on one side of the opening, a photo-'electric cellwithin the casing on the other side of the opening, a registering meteractuated by the photo-electric cell, a re. movable frame having spacedglass windows adapted to enclose between them a nim of oil to be testedand having a rim surrounding said windows, said irame also havingopposed positioning lugs. an annular boss on the casing adjacent said

